Asarum europaeum aka Asarabacca

Asarum europaeum is a low perennial called European wild ginger. It belongs to the Aristolochiaceae family. Its native range runs from Europe to central Siberia. It also grows in parts of Turkey and Georgia. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows in open woods and waterside thickets. Beech woods are one of its known habitats.

The plant creeps along the ground and spreads by rhizomes. It forms a low mat rather than an upright clump. Garden plants reach about 0.3–0.5 feet (0.1–0.15 metres) tall. They spread about 1.3–1.6 feet (0.4–0.5 metres), sometimes farther. Growth is slow, and plants take two to five years to mature. The dark green leaves have a glossy, leathery surface. Their shape ranges from a heart to a kidney. Each leaf can reach 0.25 feet (0.08 metres) across. Leaves stay green in mild winters but may be partly evergreen elsewhere.

Small, bell-shaped flowers sit close to the ground beneath the leaves. The dense leaf cover makes them hard to see. Their colour ranges from greenish yellow to brown or purple. Missouri Botanical Garden lists bloom in April and May. Chicago Botanic Garden gives May and June. Each flower has both male and female parts. Flies pollinate the flowers. The roots have a mild ginger scent. Gardeners grow this plant for its leaves, not its flowers.

Give it partial or full shade and soil rich in humus. It needs steady moisture, but the soil must drain well. It grows in clay, loam, or sand. Acid to neutral soil suits it best. It struggles with the hot, humid summers of the deep South. RHS rates its hardiness as H6. US sources give zones 4–7 or 4–8. Use it beneath shrubs, along borders, or in shaded rock gardens. It also suits woodland beds and needs no pruning. Divide plants in early spring, or sow seed when ripe.

Slugs and snails may damage the leaves. Leaf gall and rust can also occur, though serious problems are uncommon. Plants may seed themselves, but PFAF does not class them as weedy. The plant tolerates deer and black walnut. PFAF records a green dye and past herbal uses. It lists no edible uses. RHS warns that eating it can poison people and pets. Its ginger scent does not make it safe to eat.